Retracing Heinrich Barth at the Brunei Gallery, SOAS: using digital technologies to support exhibition development and encourage visitor participation

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceeding with ISSN or ISBN › Conference contribution with ISSN or ISBN

Abstract

The 19th century German explorer Heinrich Barth was one of the first Europeans to recognise the significance and richness of African history and culture. Travelling under the Arabic name Abd el Kerim, he crossed the Sahara desert, over the Air Mountains and into Central Africa, keeping accurate records of his journey. Inspired by Barth's account and fired by tales of a mysterious room containing a trove of ancient artefacts connected to Barth's expedition, artist Julia Winckler journeyed to Niger in 2005. Upon her return, her experience was recorded in an interactive multimedia website, which presented content and narratives from the journey. This paper will present the development of a resulting photographic exhibition at the Brunei Gallery. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, a range of digital and non-digital information, artefacts and technologies were used both to desgin the photographic exhibition and to encourage visitor participation. The paper also reflects on the functionality and successes of these strategies based on informal feedback and observation.

Original language

English

Title of host publication

The 9th International Symposium on Virtual Reality, Archaeology, and Cultural Heritage

title = "Retracing Heinrich Barth at the Brunei Gallery, SOAS: using digital technologies to support exhibition development and encourage visitor participation",

abstract = "The 19th century German explorer Heinrich Barth was one of the first Europeans to recognise the significance and richness of African history and culture. Travelling under the Arabic name Abd el Kerim, he crossed the Sahara desert, over the Air Mountains and into Central Africa, keeping accurate records of his journey. Inspired by Barth's account and fired by tales of a mysterious room containing a trove of ancient artefacts connected to Barth's expedition, artist Julia Winckler journeyed to Niger in 2005. Upon her return, her experience was recorded in an interactive multimedia website, which presented content and narratives from the journey. This paper will present the development of a resulting photographic exhibition at the Brunei Gallery. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, a range of digital and non-digital information, artefacts and technologies were used both to desgin the photographic exhibition and to encourage visitor participation. The paper also reflects on the functionality and successes of these strategies based on informal feedback and observation.",

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceeding with ISSN or ISBN › Conference contribution with ISSN or ISBN

TY - GEN

T1 - Retracing Heinrich Barth at the Brunei Gallery, SOAS: using digital technologies to support exhibition development and encourage visitor participation

AU - Winckler, Julia

AU - Carillo, Erminia

AU - Rodriguez Echavarria, Karina

AU - Pemberton, Lyn

PY - 2008

Y1 - 2008

N2 - The 19th century German explorer Heinrich Barth was one of the first Europeans to recognise the significance and richness of African history and culture. Travelling under the Arabic name Abd el Kerim, he crossed the Sahara desert, over the Air Mountains and into Central Africa, keeping accurate records of his journey. Inspired by Barth's account and fired by tales of a mysterious room containing a trove of ancient artefacts connected to Barth's expedition, artist Julia Winckler journeyed to Niger in 2005. Upon her return, her experience was recorded in an interactive multimedia website, which presented content and narratives from the journey. This paper will present the development of a resulting photographic exhibition at the Brunei Gallery. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, a range of digital and non-digital information, artefacts and technologies were used both to desgin the photographic exhibition and to encourage visitor participation. The paper also reflects on the functionality and successes of these strategies based on informal feedback and observation.

AB - The 19th century German explorer Heinrich Barth was one of the first Europeans to recognise the significance and richness of African history and culture. Travelling under the Arabic name Abd el Kerim, he crossed the Sahara desert, over the Air Mountains and into Central Africa, keeping accurate records of his journey. Inspired by Barth's account and fired by tales of a mysterious room containing a trove of ancient artefacts connected to Barth's expedition, artist Julia Winckler journeyed to Niger in 2005. Upon her return, her experience was recorded in an interactive multimedia website, which presented content and narratives from the journey. This paper will present the development of a resulting photographic exhibition at the Brunei Gallery. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, a range of digital and non-digital information, artefacts and technologies were used both to desgin the photographic exhibition and to encourage visitor participation. The paper also reflects on the functionality and successes of these strategies based on informal feedback and observation.

M3 - Conference contribution with ISSN or ISBN

SP - 97

EP - 102

BT - The 9th International Symposium on Virtual Reality, Archaeology, and Cultural Heritage